Spirited takes the place of Beast, then closes in less than 6 months

Here is an old-timey picture of the building in question:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BICYCLIST_PASSES_AN_EXAMPLE_OF_BROOKLYN_ARCHITECTURE_ON_VANDERBILT_AVENUE_IN_NEW_YORK_CITY._BROOKLYN_REMAINS_ONE_OF..._-_NARA_-_555894.jpg
It includes a caption from the EPA:
THE INNER CITY IS AN ABSOLUTE CONTRADICTION TO THE MAIN STREAM OF AMERICA, AND IS POPULATED BY BLACKS, LATINS AND THE POOR WHITE

The "inner city" has become a lot different since that caption was written in 1942.

BTW, Spirited just got its liquor permit.     It should open very soon.

Grand Opening is Friday, August 29th.

Not anymore… We walked past last night and the signs now say that the opening is delayed due to a plumbing issue that caused damage. Unfortunate timing, hopefully they get it resolved quickly and it doesn't cost too much money.

It seems like the grand opening will be tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm.    

Press: http://www.urbandaddy.com/nyc/nightlife/31882/Spirited_Everything_Here_Has_Alcohol_New_York_City_NYC_Bar

Includes a slideshow: http://www.urbandaddy.com/slideshow/nyc/4516/Spirited_Slideshow_New_York_City_NYC#0

And a link to their menu: http://spiritedbrooklyn.com/menus/

Hi everyone!!!  Thanks for piping in!

We *ARE* open (although not on Mondays) and we've had a fantastic first eight days!

Our hours for the moment are:

Tuesday: 4pm - 12am

Wednesday: 4pm - 12am

Thursday: 4pm - 2am

Friday: 4pm - 2am

Saturday: 4pm - 2am

Sunday: 4pm - 10pm 

Once the public demands it, we'll start opening earlier and earlier to our original projected opening hours of 2pm on weekdays and 11am on weekends.

Can't wait to welcome you all over soon!

Hey, I just wanted to chime on my experience on Spirited.  

I'm not going to lie, until actually stepping inside, the concept did not make sense to me.  I wondered how a late night dessert and liquor spot could keep their seats filled.  I mean, how long do people ever spend having dessert?

But I had an awesome time my first night there.  Consider this place a straight up speakeasy with passionate enthusiastic bartenders, and a sexy-sweets vibe that one can either indulge in our just treat as decoration.   

It was a perfect place to bring a date.  We chatted with the bartenders for a bit then moved back to couches in the back room.  It was fun chapter in our evening.   I'm proud to live across the street from it and I'll be back lots.

There's currently a Gilt City deal in case anyone wants to try it: http://www.giltcity.com/newyork/spiritednovny

Finally made my way here. I loved the concept and it has a real nice atmosphere. Old jazz music, not too loud, and friendly staff. Lots of coctails and obviously the various desserts. They suggest pairings of desserts/cocktails. There is a lounge area in the back with very comfy looking sofas. A great place for a date!

While I did really enjoy my visits here, the writing was scribbled on the empty bar stools all along.

I am very sorry to see them go. I loved the concept, the decor, the drinks, the drunken cakes.

I predict that whatever entity purchased 638 Bergen will make the investments necessary to attract an experienced, restaurant/bar operator that is able to pack the venue and help recoup the cost of said renovations.

Maybe Spirited will come to Nostrand...or Kingston!

I fear Spirited's Vanderbilt adventure was a money losing one, and that we will not see them again.

Too bad.  Liked the concept too.  The carrying costs for a novel concept like that must be an albatross.  Perhaps more suited for a smaller cheaper space on Nostrand or side street between Franklin and Nostrand. 

It's hard to imagine how much of the building will be able to be kept.  The previous owner Moses "old Man Morris" Kirschner did exactly zero to upkeep those apartments even as far back as 2002.  Their layouts, especially the 2nd floor, are funky.  The bay window had a serious slant over a decade ago.  Morris didn't want to sell while he was alive to save his daughter estate taxes.  The plan was basically to keep it as it was, pay a local guy to act as suedo Super, and once Morris died to have his daughter sell it for the big bucks.  I will be very curious to see what the new owners do with the building.

I imagine Beast's owners knew Morris's plan.  I wonder if it had anything to do with their decision to sell when they did?

If anyone has a dessert bar of their own to furnish...



Spirited's lease has been bought out and we're selling everything we can't store (and that's A LOT) on Sunday, April 19th, starting at 11am.

PLUS!!! While this closing sucks big time, we're going to try and make this sale as fun as possible, by also opening our doors for one "Last Call" weekend! Join us for as long as supplies last!!

PLEASE NOTE: Everything is CASH ONLY and there will be NO REFUNDS. For larger items, deposits of 20% will be required on the day of the sale, and final payment upon pick-up will be acceptable. Pick-up and moving will be the responsibility of the buyer and all items must go by Wednesday, April 29.

THAT SAID: Most furniture, select decor items, dishes, glasses, barware, and other general things are included.

Specific commercial, less-than-a-year-old-and-still-under-warranty restaurant equipment includes:
- FULL SETUP for a Breadcrumb POS system: 2 iPad terminals & register drawers, three printers and a Meraki heavy-duty router. (Value: $3,500)
- 2 Stackable Baker's Pride Electric Convection Ovens (Value: $5,000)
- Cecilware Espresso machine & water filtration system (Value: $4,500)
- Espresso grinder (Value: $500)
- 20qt Stand Mixer (Value: $3,000)
- Small (dorm size) countertop freezer (Value: $100)

Other used commercial restaurant equipment that might be of interest to you includes:
- 700+ bottle wine cooler
- Large low-boy refrigerator
- Large box freezer
- Bunn pour-over 2.5 qt coffee maker
- Misc stainless steel shelving & work tables
- 2 full-size speed racks
- Various pots, pans, and other cooking/baking supplies

Crazy-awesome antiques & memorabilia include:
- 1957 Cigarette machine (doesn't work at the moment, but is fixable)
- Vintage cash register (decorative only)
- Vintage Royal typewriter (guessing 1930s/40s era)
- Wood & Iron Host stand (circa 1939)

Furniture includes:
- 22 wooden chairs with brand-new red 'leatherette' reupholstery
- 5 square wood & brass tables
- 2 rectangular wood & brass tables
- 1 circular wood & brass table
- Red Leather Chesterfield set (Couch, Chair, Ottoman)
- Set of three low, mirror & wood coffee tables
- Wooden rectangular coffee table
- Large, freshly reupholstered leatherette & velvet banquette (roughly 18' long and breaks into 4 pieces for easy transport)

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/gms/4980325104.html

I imagine Beast's owners knew Morris's plan.  I wonder if it had anything to do with their decision to sell when they did?

Based on Vanderbilly's list, it looks like Beast left behind everything but the little dragons it used for decoration.

...which is kind of a bummer. For the right price, I would like to buy a little dragon.

I spoke with the owner of Spirited today. The new owner of the building bought out her lease, and is vacating the entire building of residential tenants. All are believed to have been on month to month leases.

She is taking the historic bar with her, as the landlord will gut the entire building. She will have it professionally taken apart this week.

She hopes to reopen somewhere in the future, and is going to store everything of value that can not be sold.

It sounds as if this spot won't return to commercial use for at least a year.

I speculate that the apartments above will return as lovely condos in the $1000 PSF range.

News about the apartments:

 http://ny.curbed.com/2017/3/16/14935318/historic-prospect-heights-building-penthouse-addition

Looks nice.

My god that addition looks so out of place and ugly when considering the prewar design of the building. It's a modern contemporary addition that on its own might be nice, but in this context just shows how little these architects care about the historic building.

The preservation board gave it the go ahead.

Looking at it from the ground level, it doesn't look too bad but I'm still not a fan of these type of additions on prewar buildings.

I wonder what will fill the ground floor commercial space.

As noted above, the bar was removed.

Wine Bar on its way. "The board also approved a full liquor license application for a new wine bar, Wine People, which will open on the corner of Bergen Street and Vanderbilt Avenue in the location formerly occupied by the dessert spot Spirited and longtime bar, Beast." https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170609/prospect-heights/opening-restaurant-prospect-heights-626-vanderbilt-plan-b

AKA 576 Vanderbilt. Construction seemed pretty far along when I last looked in.